What to Do With a Lumpy Mattress?

Landfill

• Old lumpy mattresses that are not good enough to be slept on anymore can be taken to a local landfill or garbage facility. Before you load up that big awkward mattress, contact the facility to confirm they accept mattresses. Many facilities charge a fee to accept mattresses. If they do not accept mattresses, call a junk service to schedule a pick-up. These companies charge a fee for their services.

Recycle

• Lumpy old mattresses can be recycled in many areas. Saint Vincent de Paul, an organization that recycles old mattresses, states that 85 percent of mattresses are recyclable. When recycled, they are taken apart and sorted into piles of each type of material such as foam, fabric and metal springs. In addition to being more eco-friendly than sending it to the landfill, recycling can save you money. You will also not need to worry about cleaning the mattress. Check with your local recycling center to find out if they accept mattresses.

Repurpose

• Old lumpy mattresses don't have to be sent away; they can be kept in one piece and re-purposed and used for your children's playtime as a cheap trampoline or as a safety cushion under a jungle gym. Have the mattress cleaned before letting your kids play on it.

Reuse

• The mattress can be taken apart and the pieces used for something else. Foam and padding can be stuffed inside pillows or placed on top of a compost pile to keep the contents warm. It can also be laid under soil as landscape cloth to keep your garden weed-free. Wood frames can be used to build a compost bin. The metal springs can be used as a trellis for climbing plants and vegetables. The individual springs can also be used as interesting wine bottle holders.

Sell

• If the mattress does not have a foul odor, it can be sold or offered up for free. Even if it is lumpy and not comfortable to you, there are people who are willing to pay a small amount of money for a mattress that is better than what they have. Place an ad in a local newspaper or an online classified advertising website. Be honest about the condition of the mattress and give it a reasonable price.

Donate

• Lumpy mattresses can be donated to various organizations. To creative art students it can become an art canvas or taken apart and used to create art. Local churches or homeless shelters can often use old mattresses if they have been cleaned. An animal shelter or doggy daycare can use lumpy mattresses as pet beds as long as there are no dust mites or bedbugs inside.